Political battle lines are drawn for Sefton's 2014 local elections

A third of the borough's seats are up for grabs - with voting taking place on May 22

Elections are set to take place across the borough later this month – with a third of Sefton’s seats, 22 in all, up for grabs – so can we expect a political earthquake?

At the last poll in 2012, Labour took control of Sefton Council
for the first time after a night of voting meltdown for the Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties.

Former Conservative leader Paula Parry lost the heartland Blundellsands seat to Labour party member, Veronica Bennett, by 500 votes.

And the Lib Dems, which were once the largest party on the hung authority were pushed behind UKIP in a number of wards.

This year opinion polls suggest that the battle for top spot nationally will be between Labour and UKIP – so what will this mean for Southport
and Sefton?

Across the borough UKIP have nominated members up for election in all 22 wards, along with Labour and the Conservatives.

Unusually the Lib Dems have dropped from 22 nominees to just 14 – below the Green Party who have 15 members up for election. There are also three nominees for the Southport Party.

Sefton Council leader, and head of the Labour Party, Peter Dowd
, said that he never comments on what he thinks the outcome of an election will be.

He added: “Our priorities include trying to protect the most vulnerable, investment in our town centres, the evolvement of a programme of trying to get people back to work – particularly young people on apprenticeships.

“And managing the finances of the council as best we can given the massive cuts we have had from central government.”

Southport Labour, however, say they are confident that they will win their first seat in the resort at the up-coming poll.

Conservative party leader, Terry Jones, told the Visiter they are hopeful for a successful election.

He added: “We have a good group of candidates who are full of youth and who are out there working hard.

“We think we stand a good chance and I think that we should at least win three seats – this is the start of our come back and I think we are going to do even better next year.”

Wishing luck to Paula Parry, who is now vying for a seat in Church Ward, Terry added: “The more conservatives we get in the better – I welcome any Tory that wins a seat.”

Lib Dem leader, Iain Brodie Browne said that his party provides the ‘only coherent alternative to waste, secrecy and debt.’

“For generations our success has been based on working hard locally all the year round and listening to the voters. We are at the forefront of campaigns against the closure of libraries,” he added.

“The £46 ‘green bin’ tax was withdrawn after our vigorous campaign and we continue to speak up against plans to build on Green Belt sites – and with our volunteer litter picking initiative these emphasise our environmental concern.”

Brian Naylor of the Southport Party added: “What we want is Southport to run its own affairs as we did prior to 1974, we feel the town has become run down in a considerable way during that time and we hope to restore it.”

Laurence Rankin, Coordinator of Sefton Green Party said it is great to see so many Green Party candidates in the running.

He added: “We want a return to sensible economics that works for people, not the high spending bonus culture that just works for bankers and speculators, and where the less well off pay for the mistakes of the very well off.”

UKIP candidate Jack Colbert said his party stand for putting power back where it belongs – with local communities.

He added: “Sefton communities are under attack from a coalition government who are taking money away from councils, but increasing the pressures on local services.

“Labour, Conservatives and the Lib Dems, have failed, and have also refused to listen to the Sefton residents.”

Voting opens at the polls on May 22 for both local and European Parliamentary elections.

Sefton’s results will be counted on May 23 and the North West European Parliamentary Elections count will take place on May 25.

The Editor

Andrew Brown

Andrew Brown is the editor of the Southport Visiter, Midweek Visiter, Formby Times, Ormskirk Advertiser, Skelmersdale Advertiser, and the Crosby Herald. Andrew was born and bred in Southport - a true Sandgrounder. Andrew was one of the founders of Southport's Charity Fun Fest.